Think aiout it
In 1993/4 at university I learnt about neural networks and even programmed one to operate like an Xor gate. Now AI has come along but in that time I’ve learnt how to be a software engineer, how to be a teacher and the combination of both has given me insights about learning and how we learn. In my day to day work I don’t use AI (Artificial Intelligence) on purpose, I do use search engines that now provide AI answers as a part of their results. The critical element with searching is that I have an idea of both what I’m looking for and if the answer fits what I’m expecting it to solve. That I understand the answer and can visualise how it could solve the problem.
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Not the only one
I came across ‘Warning: Why AI kills learning’ (www.linkedin.com/posts/davidbombal_ai-brainrot-learning-activity-7471652619317411840-lguN / www.instagram.com/reel/DZiGzK0oSh2 – Note: There is a scary skeleton animation in the clip) by David Bombal, where he has an interesting chat with Marcus Hutchins in ‘Every Reason Why I Hate AI and You Should Too’. This has got me thinking about my own scepticism and caution.
Caution
I’m not against new technologies but I do like to analyse and understand things before I make a decision. To reduce the risk of uncertainty especially when its an important decision, what I understand to be “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”. Therefore I’m sceptical about when a new thing comes along with a lot of hype. Certainly AI has been on receiving end a lot. Everybody rushing to get on the same band wagon and be apart of what society is defining to be the norm. To me such rapid hype can smell of a scam because it floats lots of hypothetical future positives for a problem you didn’t know you had.
Tools
As humans we have evolved to use tools that help us to survive in our world. The tools provide a service and function that our own physical bodies cannot. We control them rather than them controlling us. AI is also a tool we have created.
Use
When we are using AI, are we using it:
- To do something we cannot do ourselves?
- To do what we can but faster?
- Because it we would have to learn something new but don’t want to?
- Because it is more cost effective than a human?
- Because it can do something that we shouldn’t do ourselves?
To answer those questions:
- Then this could be a good thing. What tools are there to do and make a real difference, as long as that difference is a positive one.
- If we will understand the answer and it matches our expectation then it could be a positive thing to use by an individual but not to replace them. Think ‘tool’.
- Then perhaps we should consider learning and not taking a shortcut. Because how will we know if the answer is correct?
- This perhaps is the most controversial question. Are we valuing tools and technology above ourselves? If yes then should we really be doing so? Will we lose sight of the value of a human in this world?
- Can AI undertake tasks, like other tools, that are just too dangerous for us to undertake without serious risk to health? For instance in decommissioning nuclear power plants? Would we trust it to do so?
Maintainability
Recently a friend has used AI to generate code to solve a problem. The solution worked, it was generated quickly and in reading the code it appeared to be sound. But then I thought, what happens when you want to improve it? When underlying technology changes and you need to maintain it like any other piece of software? Can AI do this for you too?
Current belief
Given what I have written, I currently believe that AI should not replace learning but compliment it. To be a tool that supports learning and work rather than replaces it. That the learner understands that there is a real human that they can contact and discuss the outcome with, that plays a part and ‘signs off’ the assessment. That the worker uses AI where appropriate and isn’t replaced by it. That we employ our own knowledge first and keep AI as a tool in the process. That either software is written by a human or a human fully understands what has been created so that it can be maintained. Though this is with a caveat, that AI can be used to create ‘snippets’, small solutions that are understood and integrated into the overall solution by a human. That is perhaps what a tool is, a part of the process but not the whole process itself.
What do you think please?
- Think aiout it – 16th July 2026
- Rolls in fridge – 16th June 2026
- Learning never stops – 16th May 2026
